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Reklama
Youth
John Allen Hilger was born in Sherman, Texas 11. January 1909. Here also he attended both basic and high school. He graduated from Sherman High School in June 1926, and began to attend college Texas a&M College, in College Station, also in Texas. In 1932, earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.
In the army
Hilgerova military career began in may 1932, when he was as a lieutenant in the reserves assigned to the infantry. Hilger, however, in February 1933 as a cadet he entered the aviation school of the army air corps. In February 1934 he got "wings" and was assigned to active duty in the air corps, while still a student of the aviation school. In February 1935 he was appointed a lieutenant in the air corps and in October 1936 he was appointed a lieutenant in active duty.
His first business classification after the completion of the pilot training took him to the base March Field in California, where he served as a pilot and aide to the commander of the photographic section of the base. In October 1939 he was promoted to lieutenant commander.
In may 1940 he was a lieutenant Hilger translated to the base McChord Field in Washington state and became the commander of 89. recon squadron (89th Reconnaissance Squadron) in September of the same year. Hilger served at McChord Field, where he flew anti-submarine patrols until February 1942. During this time he was promoted to captain and later to major.
Doolittleův raid
Major Hilger was promoted to lieutenant colonel in march 1942 and took part in as deputy commander and pilot of the famous Doolittleova raid on Tokyo 18. April 1942.
Hilger was the captain of the aeroplane B-25 Mitchell the serial numbers 40-2297. Started at 9:15 pm Machine without problems arrived over Nagoya and dropping bombs was launched at 15:20 hrs the Gradually were the incendiary bombs hit the nagoya barracks, a storehouse of fuel, weapons and air factory air force. The crew saw only one aircraft, however, did not attack. Bothered by the bursts of anti-aircraft fire scored a course over China. The weather quickly got worse and the night came. Hilger at 22:20 hrs ordered crew to jump off parachutes. Then he left the machine he. Hilger landed on the slope of the mountain, was shaken up, but thankfully remained uninjured. After the impact, he wrapped himself in the parachute and spent the night. In the morning he saw at the foot of the mountain village and set off to her. The local villagers it led to the road, where already after the airmen searched the chinese soldiers, who drove to the rally point, where the whole Hilgerova crew gradually met and later with other rescued airmen returned to the united states. Here received high honors. Hilger was also in September of the same year he was promoted to colonel.
Staff
In July 1943 colonel Hilger took command of the sino - american bomber group in the sino-burmsko-indian operating area - the 1st Bomb Group (Provisional).
During the last 18 months of the second world war he served in the western Pacific as a special planning officer at the headquarters of the pacific commander in chief admiral Chester W. Nimitz.
In January 1946 he was colonel Hilger transferred to headquarters air force at the Pentagon, where he served as the head of the internal planning department of the planning division in August 1948. Then attended College of the air war and, after graduating, was assigned as the commander of the 307. bomber wing (307th Bomb Wing) located on the air force base MacDill in Florida. The unit moved to Okinawa during the Korean conflict. Hilger then served as director of operations at the headquarters of the sixth air division again in MacDill, in the meantime, before he entered the National high war school (National War College) Washington D.C. in August 1951.
In July 1952 he was colonel Hilger ranked as the chief of the Division of the allocation to the directorate of operations in the Pentagon (chief of the allocations division - directorate of operations) to July 1955. Then he was appointed commander of the Operational test center air force at the air force base Eglin in Florida. In October 1956, he was promoted to brigadier general and continued in command of Operating the test center in June 1957.
He was then appointed commander of the american group of military air force, attached to the american Military mission for aid to Turkey in Ankara. This position he held from June 1957 to June 1959.
In July 1959 he was general Hilger assigned as chief of staff of the Allied air forces of NATO in Oslo, norway and served there until July 1961.
Epilogue
Hilger active service he left in August 1966. He was awarded a number of high honors: the Silver Star, Legion of Merit with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star, Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters and the chinese order of the Jung Hui 4. class.
Died 3. 2. 1982. His ashes were scattered on the coast of Newport Beach in California.
John A. Hilger jako kadet v letecké škole armádního letectva v roce 1933.
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